AN INTERACTIVE AVIATION ARCHIVE
THE MACHINES
THAT RULED
THE SKY.
Explore military, research, training, and pioneer aircraft across more than a century of engineering. Select an airframe, take control, and inspect it from every angle.
Explore the collection ↓
Loading the P-51D Mustang model
···The Mustang paired long range with high-altitude performance, escorting Allied bombers deep into Europe and becoming one of World War II’s defining fighters. Its transformation with the Merlin engine produced an exceptional balance of speed, efficiency, and range, and the design later returned to combat as a ground-attack aircraft in Korea.
THE COLLECTION
SELECT AN AIRFRAME
Browse every airframe by its primary mission, with each class arranged chronologically for quick comparison.
AIRCRAFT CLASS
Fighters & Interceptors
Air-superiority, escort, fleet-defense, and multirole fighters built to contest the sky.
AIRCRAFT CLASS
Bombers & Attack
Strategic bombers, close-air-support aircraft, gunships, and stealth strike platforms.
AIRCRAFT CLASS
Helicopters & Tiltrotors
Attack, utility, assault-support, and heavy-lift aircraft with vertical-flight capability.
AIRCRAFT CLASS
Airlift & Mission Support
Strategic transports, carrier logistics aircraft, and airborne command-and-control platforms.
AIRCRAFT CLASS
Reconnaissance & Patrol
Intelligence, maritime patrol, surveillance, and remotely piloted reconnaissance aircraft.
AIRCRAFT CLASS
Training & General Aviation
Primary and advanced trainers alongside widely flown general-aviation aircraft.
AIRCRAFT CLASS
Pioneers & Experimental
Early flying machines, research aircraft, racing designs, prototypes, and historic airships.
CHRONOLOGY
1903 — 2020
The whole archive by year of introduction, decade by decade. Pick any entry to load it in the viewer.
1900s
03 AIRFRAMES1910s
02 AIRFRAMES1930s
03 AIRFRAMES1940s
09 AIRFRAMES1950s
08 AIRFRAMES1960s
06 AIRFRAMES1970s
05 AIRFRAMES1980s
06 AIRFRAMES1990s
04 AIRFRAMES2000s
07 AIRFRAMES2010s
05 AIRFRAMES2020s
01 AIRFRAMES
CURATORIAL NOTE
WHAT THIS
ARCHIVE
COLLECTS.
WHY THESE 59
One practical constraint sets the boundary: an airframe appears here only when a detailed 3D model of it has been released under a licence that lets us show it, credit its maker, and keep it free to explore. Inside that boundary the picks lean towards types that changed how aircraft were built or used — the first operational jet fighter, the first design shaped around radar returns, the machines that defined carrier aviation.
WHAT IT COVERS
59 airframes introduced between 1903 and 2020, from 9 countries, sorted into 7 mission classes: fighters, bombers and attack aircraft, helicopters and tiltrotors, airlift and mission support, reconnaissance and patrol, trainers and general aviation, and pioneering or experimental designs. It leans towards Western military aviation and towards types with well-documented public models. It is not a survey of everything that flew.
WILL IT GROW
Yes — the list is open rather than final. An airframe is added when a suitably licensed model exists and the type shows something the collection does not already show. There is no target count, and no schedule.
HELP SHAPE THE ARCHIVE
REQUEST AN
AIRFRAME.
Is an important aircraft missing? Tell us what you would like to explore next. Suggestions help guide future additions when a detailed, appropriately licensed 3D model is available.
MODEL ATTRIBUTION
THE DIGITAL AIRFRAMES
Every model in this archive was built by someone else and is displayed under its creator’s stated licence. Most use Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (opens in a new tab) ; the T-6B, T-34A, and T-45 use GNU GPLv2 source released through helijah’s FlightGear hangar and converted for this web viewer. 59 models by 33 creators. The directory below links every model to its source and applicable terms.
FULL ATTRIBUTION DIRECTORY59 MODELS · 33 CREATORS
- F4U-1 CorsairAlec HuxleySource CC BY 4.0
- P-51 Mustangan.s055163Source CC BY 4.0
- Me 262Secret Weapons — Arma 3 ModSource CC BY 4.0
- F-86 Sabremanilov.apSource CC BY 4.0
- Cessna 172osmosikumSource CC BY 4.0
- MiG-21 Fishbedkyu190aSource CC BY 4.0
- North American X-15cmoreauSource CC BY 4.0
- F-4 Phantom IIandertanSource CC BY 4.0
- SR-71 BlackbirdKOG_THORNSSource CC BY 4.0
- F-14 TomcatdwsdSource CC BY 4.0
- CH-53E Sea StallionMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- F/A-18E/F Super HornetandertanSource CC BY 4.0
- MH-60SKojfDiscordSource CC BY 4.0
- F-22 RaptorandertanSource CC BY 4.0
- UH-60M Black HawkYi Tsung LeeSource CC BY 4.0
- J-11BKojfDiscordSource CC BY 4.0
- MQ-9 ReaperTyler V HowellSource CC BY 4.0
- T-6B Texan IIEmmanuel Baranger (helijah)Source GNU GPLv2 GPL source
- MV-22 OspreyMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- E-2D Advanced HawkeyeMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- F-35 source modelthientrung2004prSource CC BY 4.0
- Supermarine SpitfireBohdan LvovSource CC BY 4.0
- F-104 StarfighterMikhail_ZelenovSource CC BY 4.0
- AC-130Josh LasiaSource CC BY 4.0
- YA-10B Warthog42manakoSource CC BY 4.0
- F-117 NighthawkJeyhun1985Source CC BY 4.0
- MiG-29 (9-13)RifeorSource CC BY 4.0
- AV-8B Harrier II42manakoSource CC BY 4.0
- AH-1W Super CobraMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- AH-64D ApacheMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- P-8 PoseidonMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- C-5 GalaxyKitttyyuuuuuuuuhhhSource CC BY 4.0
- Su-57 FelonandertanSource CC BY 4.0
- LZ 129 HindenburgMaritime History BuffSource CC BY 4.0
- Santos-Dumont 14-bishelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- Farman IVhelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- Curtiss JN-4 JennyhelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- Caudron G.4helijahSource CC BY 4.0
- Gee Bee R-1helijahSource CC BY 4.0
- B-25 MitchellhelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- Horten Ho 229helijahSource CC BY 4.0
- Bell X-1helijahSource CC BY 4.0
- T-28 TrojanhelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- T-34A MentorEmmanuel Baranger; Manuel ACESource GNU GPLv2 GPL source
- B-52 StratofortressbohmerangSource CC BY 4.0
- U-2S Dragon LadyhelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- S-64 SkycranehelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- C-2 GreyhoundhelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- T-45 GoshawkEmmanuel Baranger (helijah)Source GNU GPLv2 GPL source
- B-2 SpiritCarlos.MacielSource CC BY 4.0
- J-20 Mighty Dragon42manakoSource CC BY 4.0
- Wright FlyerjewelSource CC BY 4.0
- Hughes H-4 HerculeshelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- B-36 PeacemakerhelijahSource CC BY 4.0
- CH-47 ChinookMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- F-111F AardvarkRhine_Lab_MuelsyseSource CC BY 4.0
- B-1A LancerMuhamad Mirza ArrafiSource CC BY 4.0
- MiG-23MLD FloggerTim SamedovSource CC BY 4.0
- Airbus A400M AtlasCloudHubSource CC BY 4.0